Deadlier Than the Male

A tenacious investigator who follows a trail of murders through luxury settings. He pieces together the garbled tape, foils the assassins, and relentlessly pursues the truth. Drummond ultimately rescues Robert and corners Petersen's scheme, proving a steady moral compass amid glamor and danger.

A glamorous but ruthless assassin using disguise and charm to advance a deadly plan. She orchestrates multiple killings, beginning with Keller, and coordinates with Penelope to secure the oil concession. Her cool, calculating nature makes her a formidable foe for Drummond.

Irma's partner in crime, equally beautiful and dangerous. She participates in abductions and bomb plots, employing seduction and manipulation to distract targets. Penelope's schemes unravel as the involving plan ends with both assassins meeting the same explosive fate.

An oil tycoon whose opposition to the merger triggers the assassination plot. His death is the catalyst that pulls Drummond into the mystery and sparks a scramble among board members. Keller embodies wealth and risk in the ruthless world of oil politics.

A genius behind the assassinations, operating from a castle with a meticulous plan. He controls events with a calm, calculating intellect and uses Grace as a tool to reach the Akmatan king. The twist reveals Petersen as Weston, the hidden mastermind.

A socialite who boards the king's yacht and becomes an unwitting courier for the bomb. She is manipulated by Petersen and Irma, and her hairclip conceals the explosive. Drummond's search and exposure of her role underscores the danger of appearances.

The Akmatan monarch determined to control his country's oil fields. His rule is central to the plot's tension, as foreign interests attempt to override his veto. He embodies political sovereignty in a land where wealth and power are constantly contested.

Drummond's old college friend and nephew to the family; he is abducted and tortured by Penelope but survives a dramatic rescue. His experiences highlight the personal cost of the oil-fueled conspiracy and the danger faced by those close to the investigation.